Tag: la real estate

In this series we’re taking a look at homes sold at various price points around LA’s Eastside in the first half of 2017. Since homes in today’s market rarely sell at their asking price, we’ll be focusing instead on selling price. What will a budget between $600,000 – $700,000 get you in Eastside LA and what kind of process should you expect? Read below to find out.

708 N. Adams St: This Spanish home in the Woodbury pocket of Glendale is about 100 feet from the highway and has 2 different apartment buildings staring down at it but if you can get past that it’s oozing with original Spanish character featuring a fireplace, leaded glass, hardwood floors, arched doorways, updated kitchen & bath, plus access to Glendale’s top-rated schools. Was asking $649,000 and sold for $669,000.

768 Museum Dr: Attention tiny home fans! What this little 1bd 683 sq ft bungalow lacks in square footage, it makes up for in character, updates, and serene outdoor space. Sitting on a woodsy lot on the edge of Moon Canyon in Mt Washington, you’ll probably spend much of your time hanging out on the almost 400 sq ft of decking or gardening in your shaded yard. This sits in one of the most coveted school districts in LA, but would be a tight fit for kids. Was asking $525,000 and sold for $665,000.

4906 Granada St: This 2bd 926 sq ft Spanish bungalow on a corner lot in Highland Park has been updated with refinished floors, new appliances, marble countertops, new decking, and 2 bathrooms. Was asking $649,000 and sold for $670,000.

564 Meridian Terrace: This 824 sq ft Highland Park Bungalow has been updated with modern finishes but also retains it’s original hardwood floors, built-ins, and vintage vibe. The xeriscaped backyard is crowned by a garage that’s been converted to a work studio with water, power, and casement windows. Was asking $659,000 and sold for $690,000.

3625 Edenhurst Ave:This Atwater Village home comes tenant occupied and in need of updates and repairs but it’s walkable to dozens of great shops and restaurants and in addition to the 1,369 sq ft main house this one has an entire secondary structure behind it – just imagine the short-term rental income potential! Was asking $679,000 and sold for $655,000.

5970 Graciosa Dr: Yes you can still get a home in the Hollywood Hills under 1 million! It’s on a teeny-tiny steeply sloped lot and needs work but this 794 sq ft cottage comes with hardwoods, a bonus loft space, vaulted ceilings, and peek-a-boo views. Was asking $699,999 and closed for $685,000.

329 Vista Pl: This 1,325 sq ft craftsman faces a lesser-known mostly unused walk-street and is accessible from the alley behind the home, which is technically Fisher St. That puts most guests entering the home through the back door and kitchen. If you can get past the backwards orientation it’s a great home in a historic pocket on a private lot with a ton of potential. Was asking $575,000 and sold for $605,000.

2622 Birch St: This Alhambra Spanish character home could use a scrubdown and some serious updates but it’s got a massive 8,000 sq ft flat backyard with a pool, Batchelder tile, built-ins, and I would be willing to bet there are some hardwood floors under that old carpet. Plus it’s in a super family-friendly area with a great school district. Was listed for $510,000 and closed for $670,000.

What to expect with a $600,000 – $700,000 budget: This price point will give you plenty of options, depending on whether size, finishes, or location is most important to you. You can find a small updated home in a hot area or a larger home that needs some work in a more off-the-radar area.

Like the ones under it, this too is a competitive price point with multiple offers being the norm so it’s good practice to set your search about $100,000 under budget, leaving some wiggle room for a potential bidding war, closing costs, and any unexpected repairs you may encounter. Ready to start looking? Click below to see what’s on the market now and click here –> to contact me today!

Big congrats to my awesome clients on their very first home! These Rental Girl renters turned TRG buyers fell in love with a beautiful modern home built in 2014 in a great pocket of Highland Park and knew immediately it was “the one”. Now they’ll be close to the action on Figueroa and York as well as everything in Eagle Rock and Pasadena. Can’t wait to see what they do with all this wonderful space!

Like a mirage in the desert, this adorable little woodsy hideaway has flickered into the sightlines of Eastside house-hunters causing quite a stir this week. Is it real? Could it be? In a neighborhood where a burned down shack costs $400,000 – how – HOW is this cute as a button cottage listed for a mere $319,000? What’s the catch?

Lets break this down:

Who needs a gym membership when you've got these babies right outside your door?

Catch #1 – Walk Street. Though this home is located on one of the widest, cutest, and most well-maintained walk streets in Silver Lake, it’s on a walk street nonetheless. What does that mean for you? It means there’s no garage or driveway, street parking only, and a short calf-burning jaunt up the stairs to come and go from your home. Not a big deal for many, but potentially a problem for children, the elderly, handicapped, pregnant, or people with strollers, art, or musical equipment frequently needing to be loaded in and out.

What highway noise? I'm sorry, I was too busy bird-watching from the couch to notice.

Catch #2 – The Highway. This home is a stones throw from the 2 which means the constant dull whir of traffic in the background. It’s actually not that audible from inside (or perhaps your brain is so charmed by the treetop views out of those precious vintage French casement windows that you just didn’t notice) but if you’re looking for a serene and quiet outdoor space in a home this isn’t the right fit for you.

The mysterious door to nowhere beckons you. It could open to another dimension, you never know.

Catch #4 – Listed as a 2bd, there’s really only one true bedroom. The 2nd “bedroom” is actually just a great extension of the living space which runs along the back of the home – it would be perfect for a home office, den, or studio space but doesn’t offer the privacy one would need for guests or children so we’re really talking about a 1bd home here. There is also very little outdoor space so you wouldn’t really have room to expand.

This isn't really a bedroom, but it's still a really great space.

Catch #3 – Needs some repairs/updating. This one is really in the eye of the beholder – some may find charm in the slightly slanted floors patched with plywood in places. Some may not mind the outdated appliances. There’s a door in the bedroom that at some point opened on to an outdoor balcony which no longer exists and now just opens directly into a 10 foot drop. Call it quirky – it’s definitely a unique home which hasn’t been gutted with some boring characterless Home Depot remodel and we’re at least thankful for that.

Catch #5 – This is the big fat bummer catch – this is not really a $319,000 home. At 1,124 square feet this breaks down to a price of $284 per square foot in a zip code where the average price per square foot is $616. That means if this home sold for the average price of other similarly sized homes in the area it would be listed closer to $700,000. Lets be realistic and knock that number down quite a bit given the walk street situation, close proximity to the highway, small lot size, and repairs needed – but that still doesn’t warrant a $400,000 price deduction. It will be interesting to keep an eye on this one and see where it lands after what will surely be multiple offers – regardless of all of the little catches this is still a really unique tree-top home offering vintage charm and character in spades. My bet is it lands somewhere in the mid-500s. What do you think?

Congrats to my buyer on his great new home in Highland Park’s Garvanza Historic District! Perfect for entertaining, this home features an open floorplan, a beautiful new deck, a garage converted to a studio, and a massive backyard complete with palm trees and fruit trees.